How much alcohol is too much? Are nightcaps a bad idea? Dr. Oz distills the latest news on drinking.

By Dr. Mehmet Oz

Photo: Thinkstock

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Don't: Have a nightcap.

If a glass of Pinot is your antidote to insomnia, you might want to reconsider. While your favorite drink can help you nod off faster (its sedative effects depress your central nervous system, triggering sleep), it won't help you snooze better. In fact, a 2013 analysis of more than 30 studies found that consuming two or more drinks less than two hours before bed decreased the amount of REM sleep. As the alcohol wears off during the course of the night, you're more likely to wake, disrupting your sleep cycle and leaving you groggier come morning. A drink with dinner is fine, but be sure to cut yourself off well before bedtime.